leayittv



(No Model.) 6 Sheets- Sheet 1.

F. M. LEAVITT.

MAGHINE FOR MAKING THE SEAMSOF SHEET METAL GANS.

No. 250,266. Patented Nov. 29,1881.

N. PEYERs. mum-Lilm n mr. Washinglnll. DJ;

' 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. M. LEAVITT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING THE SEAMS 0F SHEET METAL CANS.

Patented Nov, 2911881.

N, PEYERS. Phnwuuw n mr. Washinglufl. D. C.

(No-Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

F. M. LEAVITT. MACHINE FOR MAKING THE SEAMS 0P SHEET METALCANS. No. 250,266. I v Patented Nov 29,1881.

(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 4.

F. M. LEAVITTL MACHINE FOR MAKING THE SEAMS 0F SHEET METAL CANS. NO. 250,266. Patented Nov. 29,1881.

N. vnzns, Pholohlhoguphen Waihinslon. n. c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

P. M. LEAVITT. MACHINE P03 MAKING THE SEAMS 0F SHEET METAL CANS. No. 250,266. Patented Nov. 29,1881.

Fig.9

/1// r vsssrs M4 9% (No Model.)

6 SheetsSheet 6. F. MiLEAVITT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING THE SEAMS 0P SHEET METAL CANS.

Patented Nov. 29,1881.

N4 PETERS, Phnlwhlhognphnn WaIhInglun. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. LEAVITT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ELIPHALET W. BLISS, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING THE SEAMS OF SHEET-METAL CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,266, dated November 29, 1881,

Application filed December 1, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that 1, FRANK M. LEAVlT'l, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Making the Seams of Sheet-Metal Cans,

Boxes, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine by means of which the body ofasheetmetal can or box may be formed from the blank at a single operation, thereby effecting a very material economy in the manufacture of such articles as compared with that involved in the employment of the appliances hitherto in use for shaping the body and subsequently forming the longitudinal seam therein, these operations having hitherto required machines separate and distinct from each other, whereas by my invention aforesaid the shaping of the body from the blank and the formation of the seam are performed in one continuous operation and by means of one and the same machine.

My invention comprises certain novel combinations of parts, whereby the blank is bent to form the body and its opposite edges are interlocked to form the seam, all at one and the same operation and by means of one and the same machine, and thereby practically reduc- 0 ing the expense of shaping or seaming the can or box about one-half as compared with that required by the ordinary methods.

Figure 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 a rear elevation, Fig. 3 a plan view, and Fig. 4 a cen- 3 5 tral vertical longitudinal sectional view, of an apparatus embracing the several features of my saidinvcn tion. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8,9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,

15, 16, 17, and 18 are detail views on a larger scale, illustrating certain portions of the said 4c invention.

A is the upright frame of the machine, supported upon a suitable base, B. Upon the front of this frame A are placed two coincident laterally-adjustable frames, 0. The outer 5 lateral edges of these plates 0 are indicated at a in Fig. 1. Their inner lateral edges are hidden by other mechanism in the said figure, but are indicated at b in Fig. 3. These plates have at their upper ends a rearwardly-project- 5o ing shoulder, 0, which rests upon a cross-bar, f, as represented in Fig. 4, the under side of the shoulder a being longitudinally grooved to prevent the same from slipping forward off the cross-barf, as will be understood by reference to the saidFig. 4. The lower end of each of the adjustable frames 0 is placed behind a fixed ledge, e, on the front of the base B, and between said ledge e and the adjacent portion of the frame A. Passed through the ledge e, and with their inner ends bearing against the contiguouslower end of the adjustable frame 0, are set-screws a, so arranged that the said set-screws a may be tightened against the lower ends of the said adjustable frames, to rigidly retain the same in place when adjusted to the proper position.

The simultaneous lateral adjustment of the two adjustable frames 0 is provided for by means ofa transverse screw-shaft, D. (More clearly represented in Figs. 3 and 4.) This transverse screw-shafthas on each ofits end portions a screw-thread, these two screw-threads running in opposite directions, and each passing through a nut, g, which projects from the back of the adjacent adjustable frame 0, so that by turning the screw-shaft D in one direction or the other, as the case may be, by the crank a the adjustable frames C may be simultaneously moved laterally inward or outward to any required extent. The object of this is to permit the mechanism carried by the said laterally-adjustable frames 0, as hereinafter explained, to be adjusted to the manufacture of the bodies of cans or bodies of any desired size or diameter.

Each of the frames 0 carries a shaft, E, which works in suitable bearings, b, on the said frames 0. These shafts E, the function of which is hereinafter fully explained, may, in their relations to the driving-shaft, hereinaf- 9o ter referred to, be termed counter-shafts,. and each is provided at its outer end with the spurgear A. The driving-shaft B works in bearings c on the main frame A. The said drivin g-shaft extends entirely across the said frame A, and is provided at one end with a suitable driving-pulley, A. Toward each end of this driving-shaft B is a spur-pinion, B, these pinions B being made of considerable length, in order that when the frames 0 are adjusted lat- 10o erally, as hereinbeforeexplained,the spur-gears A may slide along and remain in contact with guide, C.

the pinions B. The transmission of motion from the driving-shat t B to the counter-shaft E, irrespective of the lateral adjustment of the frames 6, is by this means secured.

The laterally-adjustable frames 0 are provided with forwardly-projecting brackets C. (More fully represented in Fig.1.) Projecting forward from each of these brackets O is a These guides are placed in the same horizontal plane, and each is composed of a lower fiat portion, 6, upon which rests the adjacent edge of the blank to be formed into the body of a can or box, andalso of a vertical longitudinal flange,f,which prevents the lateral displacement of the blank as the same is being fed to the shaping mechanism, as hereinafter set forth. It will be observed that, inasmuch as these guides O are attached through the brackets O to the frame 0, the lateral adjustment of the said frame 0 also insures the lateral adjustment of the guides to a corresponding degree to provide for the operation of the machine upon blanks of different size-which is to say, during the operation of the machine in forming the can or box bodies of different sizes or diameters.

Placed to work between thelower portions, 6, of the guides O isafeeding-bar, D. (Shown in side view, in Fig. 4, in end view in Fig. l, and in plan view in Fig. 3.) Upon the outer end of the feeding-bar D is an upwardly-projecting stud, g, and at the inner end thereof is a similar upwardly-projecting stud,g. This feeding-bar D is supported upon the upper ends of two links, g h, pivoted to the under side of the said bar D by pivots h h. The links g h are pivoted at their lower ends to a slidingcarriage, D,which slides in fixed guides E, which are attached to the base B.

Placed in the carriage D, and capable of a longitudinal movement therein,.as indicated in the detail view, Fig. 7, is a sliding block, F, the upper surface of which slopes forward to form an inclined plane, '6. Projecting inward from the lower extremity of the link g is an arm, i, which bears against the inclined plane 2' of the sliding block F. Projecting laterally from one side of the said block F is a stud, 7c, the purpose of w hieh will presently herein appear.

Extending upward from the carriage D is a standard, between which and the link It is a spring, m", which tends to push the said link to a substantially vertical position, and thereby elevate the feeding-bar D to its greatest height-as, for example, as represented in Fig. 4.

Attached to the outer side of one of the guides E is a longitudinally adjustable bar, F, upon the opposite ends of which are upwardly-projecting stops or studs j. The longitudinal adjustment of the said stop-bar F is provided for by means of a plate, l, which is slotted lengthwise, and which bears against the adjacent flat outer surface of the guide E. When the stop-bar F has been adjusted to the proper position the plate lis tightened against the aforesaid outer surface of the fixed guide E by means of a set-screw, l, which passes through the slot in the said plate I.

In order to understand at this point the m0- das opemmli ot' the parts just specified, it is necessary here to observe that the blank to be shaped and formed into the can or box body, and which is placed upon the guides O, as hereinbefore explained, must receive two successive longitudinal movementsinward toward the rear of the machine, and that this is accomplished by one and the same movement of the feeding bar D, the stud 9 serving to carry the blank inward to the mechanism by which the edges are turned over, as the preliminary step in forming the lock -joint, and the stud g serving to feed inward the edgebent blank to the further operation of folding the same into the shape required by the body, and of interlocking and fastening the edges to complete the joint. In order to give this feeding movement to the feed-bar D, the carriage D is moved inward, the mechanism for giving such inward movement being hereinat'ter described. During this inward movement of the carriage D the block F, by frictional contact with its hearings in said carriage, moves therewith until the studst' of the said block F strike the study" at the inner end of the bar F, whereupon the further movement-of the block F is arrested, notwithstanding the further continued stroke of the carriage D. As a result, the arm "5 of the link g is driven up the inclined plane 1', as a result of which the link y is thrown outward and downward, thereby giving a corresponding movement to the link it and bringing down the feeding-bar D away from the sheet-metal blank placed in advance of the stud g of the said feeding bar, and with its edges resting upon the part c of the guide 0. On the return movement or stroke of the carriage D the arm 1' remains on the flat top of the block F until, the returnstroke being nearly, but not quite, completed, the stud 7c of the block F strikes the studj of the bar F, thereby arresting the return movement of the block before the return movement of the carriage is completed. As a result, the arm '5 is brought down the inclined surf-acct of the said block to its previous position, ready for a repetition of the feeding operations, this return movement of the parts to their normal position being insured by the quick action of the spring m as hereinbefore explained.

The reciprocating movement of the carriage D is provided for by the following mechanism, to wit: a connecting-rod, a, pivoted to the upper arm of a rock-lever, bflfrom the lower end of which extends a rod, 0 pivoted at its opposite extremity to the lower end of a leverarm, (1 30f a rock-shaft, e, from which extends upward another lever-arm, (indicated at dotted outline at f*,) and to which is attached a rod, 9, which connects it with the lower arm of a long lever, It, at the rear of the machine, the upper end of which is bowed to provide bearin gs for two anti-friction rollers, 45 3', between which, on a shaft, G, is an eccentric, G which communicates a vibratory movement to the lever h, which vibratory movement is transmitted through the parts just described to the carriage D. The said parts are more clearly represented in Fig. 4, with the exception of the cam on the shaft G, which is shown at G in Figs. 2 and 3. It is to be borne in mind that this cam must be of such configuration that while one portion of its circumference is acting upon the anti-friction roller 2' to move inward or backward the upper arm of the lever h its opposite edge must not interfere with the op posite anti-friction roller, j, and, as a matter of course, so that when a portion of its circumference is acting upon the anti-friction roller 3' its opposite edge shall not be interfered with by'the anti-friction roller 1. This is best accomplished by making the cam in two partsthat is to say, one part to act upon the antifriction roller i and the other part to act upon the similar roller, j these two parts being bolted together to constitute the entire cam, the said two parts being, of course, parallel, but in different planes. As this construction of a cam is one well understood by mechanics where movementis comm unieated between two opposing anti-friction rollers, its full and form al representation in the drawings appears to me unnecessary.

The upper and forward extremity of the lever h should be connected with the frame A by a link, k*, for the purpose of steadying the said end of the lever during its vibrations.

Arranged immediately behind the guides G, in the same horizontal plane and coincident therewith, are parallel benches an n, which are represented on a much larger scale in Figs. 12, 13, and 14, these benches being rigidly formed one upon each of the laterally-adj ustable frnm es O, hereinbetore described. The bench in has simply afiat upper surface, whereas the bench n has its outer lateral edge formed with a laterally-projectin g longitudinal lip, m.

Above the bench at is a plunger, 1', and above the bench n is another plunger, r. The plunger r is pivoted to the lower end of a slide, at, which works in suitable guides formed on the front of one of the laterally-adjustable frames (J, and receives a vertical movement from a cam, A, on the shaft E of the same laterallyadjustable frame (3. The s lid cam A works between two anti-friction rollers, n, provided upon a how, 0", connected by links 8 to the same laterally-adjustable frame 0, the lower end of said how being attached to a rod, 8, to the plunger 1', so that a vertical movement to and from the bench m is given to the plunger 1'. In order that the said plunger may be adjustable to get more or less close to the said bench, the rods has its length adjustable by being made in two parts, provided respectively with right and left hand screws and connected with the corresponding nut 5 by which the available length of the said rod may be regulated at will. Inasmuch as it is necessary, for purposes hereinafter indicated, that the plunger 1" shall be capable of a lateral inward movement, its connection with the slide m is by a pivot, t, the position of which is lengthwise with the machine.

There extends from the inner side of the plunger 1" to a suitable bearing formed on the same frame 0 a link, a, as represented in Fig. 1, said link being horizontal and in such position that in the upward movement of the plunger r the turning ofthe link upon its fixed pivot will cause its opposite end to describe a small portion of the are of a circle in an upward and inward direction, thereby drawing inward or laterally the lower end of the plunger 1". In practice, this movement, although necessary, is very slight, being, say, somewhat more than the one-sixteenth of an inch in a full-sized machine. The under surface of this plunger 1 is flat and extends above and parallel with the fiat upper surface of the bench 122. There is further provided to the lower end of the said plunger 1" a laterally-projecting lip, a, which, in a certain sense, corresponds to the lip m of the bench at. The plunger 1' has a simple vertical movement through a rod, bow, and antifriction rollers, in connection with a cam on the shaft E of that one of thelaterally-adjustable frames 0 which carries the said plunger r, the parts just enumerated corresponding substantially to those which, on the other of the laterally-adjustable frames 0, 'give vertical movement to the plunger 0". The plunger 1" coincides with the bench nin length and flatness, and is adjustable by means of a nut in its actuatingrod in the same manner as the plunger r is adjusta-ble by means of the nut 8 It will be observed that as the sheet'metal blank from which the body of the can or box is to be made is moved inward from the guide 0 itslateral edges pass directly offsaid guides upon the benches m n, so that when the properly-adjusted plungers r r are brought downward they gripe the lateral portions ot'the blank firmly against the aforesaid benches and hold them firm during certain subsequent operations of the machines, herein presently described. It is to be observed, however, that the parts are so proportioned that when the blank is thus passed inward upon the benches m 12 its lateral edges will project beyond theouterlateral edges of the benches ma, and ofcourse beyond the corresponding outer lateral edges of the plungcrs M", in order that the said lateral edges may be folded as required preliminary to the formation of the seam orjoint. It is necessary, however, in order to insure accuracy of position as concerns these edges of the blank, that gages should be provided for that purpose. These gages are constituted by projecting lips v '0 provided upon vertical t'oldingplates v '0, which are constructed and arranged as follows: These folding-plates are placed one upon one of the laterally-adj ustable frames 0 and one upon the other. The inner side of the end of each folding-plate adjacent to the lips o 17 as the case may be, constitutes a rounded shoulder, which acts upon the sheet metal to fold upon the benches m n.

the same, as will presently herein appear. The plate '0 is attached to a vertical moving slide, I, arranged in suitable guides or hearings on the contiguous frame 0. This slide I receives its vertical movement through a lever, I, and rod 1 from cams l l on the adjacent shaft E, the cam 1 bearing against an anti-friction roller on the upper end of the rod 1 while the cam 1 acts upon another anti-friction roller placed upon the rearmost end of an elbow-lever, the forward extremity of which is indicated at c in Fig. l; butthe remaining portion, together with the anti-friction roller carried thereby and situated behind the eanrl is not represented in said drawing. In the upward movement of the plate '0 its lip 11 is brought above the plane upper surface ofthe bench m j ust previous to the inward passage ofthe blank to the benches m a, simultaneous with which the lip 22 of the plate c,at theop-positesideofthemachine,is brought down into similarjuxtaposition with the outer edge of the other bench, n, the lips v 11 thus constituting guides, which bring the lateral edges of the blank into exact position immediately before the downward movement of the plunger-s r r, to gripe and hold fast the blank The plate 11 being then moved upward, and the plate '0 moving downward, the shoulders, hereinbefore described, of the said plates strike the one upon the under side of one lateral edge of the blank, the other upon the upper side of the opposite lateral edge of the said blank, so that the just specified movements of the two plates bend upward the one edge of the blank around the lip a of the plunger r, while theopposite edge of said blank is bent downward past the corresponding lip m of the bench n, the lateral edges of the blank being by this means bent at right angles to the sheet or blankitself, as more clearly represented in the enlarged view, Fig. 13, Fig. 12 illustrating the position of the lips of the two'vertical folding-plates in guiding the blank to its position, asjust hereinbefore explained.

The next succeeding operation is more clearly indicated by Fig. 14. Before proceeding to this next operation, however, it is necessary to indicate the means by which the movement just described is given to the plate 12. This is done by means of a lever, J, and by means of a rod, J, connected with two cams, J J, on the shaft E of the contiguous laterally-adjustable frame C, the cams J J acting against anti-friction rollers w w, attached by a suitable bow or yoke to the upper end of the rod J. The edges of the blank having been turned at right angles at its main portion, as just described, through the agency of the plates '0 v, the next step is to bend the said edges over to constitute the hooked portions, which, when suitably interlocked, constitute the joint for the body of the can or box. This is done by the movement of two horizontal pushers, K K, the lower inner edge of the pusher K being beveled to correspond to the bevel of the adjacent portion of the lip 10 of the plunger 1', while the pusher K has its upper inner edge beveled in like manner to correspond to the bevel of the lip m of the bench n. The pusher K is attached -to the inner end of a horizontal slide, K, which works in a suitable horizontal bearing, K provided upon the front of one of the laterally-adjustable plates (J. In like manner the pusher K is attached to the inner end of a horizontal slide, K which works in a like horizontal bearingtormed upon the front of the other laterally-adjustable frame 0. The horizontal slides K K receive their horizontal-reciprocating movement through levers L from earn-grooves L, formed in the circumference of disks or bosses placed upon the shaft E. The inward movement of the pushers K K forces the opposite edges of the blank over the lips u m, respectively, thereby giving to the folded edges of the blank a hook-like configuration, which enables the said edges to be interlocked or hooked together when the blank is bent to the proper form to constitute the body of the can or box. After the inward stroke of the pushers K K they are, of course, retracted in an opposite direction, whereupon the plungers r r are lifted by the mechanism hereinbet'ore described. As the plungerrrises, the link a, turning around its fixed pivot, swings inward the lower end of the plunger r to an extent sufficicnt to loosen the hold of the lips within the inwardly-turned edges of the blank, thereby-permitting the same to be readily pushed toward the rear of the machine for the subsequent operation of bending into the formed required for the body of the can or box. This pushing from the benches m a and from the lips a m" is effected by the stud g on the inner end of the feeding-bar D, this backward. feeding of the edge-folded blank being simultaneous with the feeding of a new blank. by the forward stud,g,to the edge-folding mechanism just described.

Immediately behind the benches mat, in the same plane and practically continuous therewith, are angular guides M, secured one to each of the laterally adjustable frames 0, these guides M being at such distance apart and so formed as to receive the edge-folded blank as the same is pushedback from the edge-folding mechanism, as above set forth. It is to be understood that the main upright frame A is provided with suitable large openings, and is otherwise so shaped as to permit these guides M to extend back, as represented more fully in Fig. 4. These guides support the edge-folded blank preparatory to the operation of bending the same to form the body of the box or can. In the space below the blank, when placed in the position last mentioned, isa former, 1V which is supported upon a block, i1, which slides vertically in guides M fixed upon the base B of the frame of the the rear elevation, Fig. 2. This vertical movement is given to the said block, and consequently to the former M, by means of a lever, N, one end of which is connected with the block M by a rod, N, and at the other is at machine, at the rear thereof, as represented in tached to the end of a rod, N, the upper end of which is attached to a sliding head, N, which moves in guides N and which has provided at its upper end a yoke having at top an anti-friction roller, a and at bottom another anti-friction roller, 1)". The cam A on the shaft G works between the two last-named anti-friction rollers, and by giving a vertical movement to the rod N transmits the requisite vertical movement to the block M and former M. The shaft G receives its motion by means of a spur-gear, B which gears into the back of the adjacent long spur-pinion B of the driving-shaft B, so that the mechanism for bending the blank into the shape of the can or box body moves in the requisite unison with the other parts hereinbefore described.

It should be observed that the rod N is composed of two parts, the adjacent ends of which are threaded in opposite directions and connected by a nut, N in order that the available or working length of said rod may be adjusted as may be desirable in the operation of the apparatus. Placed above the former M, but at such a height as to be above the blank when the latter is placed in the position last described, is a horn, P, the special construction of which is more fully represented in the enlarged detail view, Figs. 5 and 8. This horn projects backward from the frame A, to which it maybe most conveniently attached by a strap, P, attached to the said frame by any suitable means. It will be observed that, the blank being shown in the position represented at R in Fig. 2, the cavity in the former M, when the latter is forced upward, will receive the lower partof the horn P, the blank being compressed between the horn and the former, and consequently having its lateral portions or wings bent up around the sides of the horn, thereby rendering it only necessary that the extreme end portions of the blank should be turned inward over the top of the horn to bring the blank in its general configuration to that required in the body of the can or box. The means provided for this purpose are as follows:

Arranged at the back of the machine, in the same vertical plane as the horn P and former M, are two slides, S, each of which moves in a vertioallyadjustable guide, S, and each of which receives its horizontal reciprocating movement by means of a rod, S, connecting with the lower arm of an elbow-lever, S, the upper arm of which is attached to a vertical rod, S the upper end of which is attached to a sliding head, T, which works in suitable vertical guides, and has provided upon its top a yoke, in the upper part of which is an antifriction roller, T, and in another part of which is anotheran ti-friction roller, T, between which friction-rollers works a cam, T, on the shaft G, the revolution of the shaft Gr thereby giving a simultaneous movement to the slides S, the said slides moving inward toward each other and then receding from each other simultaneously, but the slide S, as represented at the left hand of Fig. 2, moving somewhat in advance of the other, for a purpose which will presently herein appear.

It should be observed that the rods S" are each composed of two pieces, threaded in opposite directions, and connected by a nut to permit of their lengthening or shortening as occasion may require, this construction of the said rods being the same as that of the rod N, hereinbefore previously described.

Upon the inner end of each of the slides S is attached a folding-heathW, at the upper part of which is a lip, 0 designed to pass over the top of the horn I. In each of the heads W is placed a pusher, e", behind which is a spiral spring, (represented in dotted outline in Fig. 2,) the object of the-spring behind each of said plungers being to render the same elastic in their action-in other words, to permit them to rest more or less within their sockets in the operation of the heads W, herein presently explained. When the slides, and consequently the heads W, are moved inward the outwardlyprojecting extreme end portions of the blank are bent inward by the lips 0 and inasmuch as the head W, (seen at the left hand of Fig. 2,) moves somewhat in advance of the other of the said heads, it follows that the left-hand extreme end portion of the blank will be folded down upon the top of the horn P in advance of the folding of the opposite extreme end of the said blank, thereby permitting the hooked or folded edge at one extremity of the blank to pass down over and toward the similarlyfolded opposite edge of the blank, so that it only requires that the said edges shall be drawn slightly in a direction away from each other to cause the same to interlock, in order that a subsequent downward pressure may unite them to form the folded or interlocking joint. In order to prevent the said hooked edges from slipping from each other before catching the one upon the other, as just specified, certain precautions are necessary,and these are taken by means of the following mechanism:

Formed on the back of the frame A are guides X, in which moves a vertical slide, X, composed of two parts, one above and one below, connected by a bolt, 00, upon which is formed a squared boss, or. The ends of this bolt arethreaded in opposite directions and worked in nuts formed in the upper and lower parts, respectively, of the slide X, so that by turning the bolt .19 in one direction or the other theavailable length of the said slide may be increased or diminished at will. Upon the upper end of this slide X is ayoke similar to the yokes of the slides T and N and having at top an anti-friction roller, 00 and at bottom an anti-friction roller, 00, the former being acted upon by a cam, 31, on the shaft G to lift the slide X, and the latter being acted upon by a cam, 1, on the same shaft to depress the said slide X, so that by this means the requisite vertical movement at the proper time is IIS given to the said slide X, from the lower end of which projects what I term the nippinghammer f", the said nipping-hammer being above and in line with the horn P. When the hooked or folded edges of the blank have been brought over each other, as just hereinbefore explained, but before the said edges have been permitted to retract in opposite directions, as also herein before indicated, the downward movement of the slide X brings the nippinghammer f lightly down upon the uppermost of the said edges, and thereby prevents it from lifting during retraction, so that by this means the hooking of the two edges together is insured. When this is done the further downward movement ofthe nipping-hammer, caused at a due interval and in a due degree by a proper configuration of the cami forcibly con1 presses the uppermost of the folded edges upon the lowermost thereof, thereby bringing them firmly and closely together to form the tight and sung joint required in the finished body of the can or box.

It will be observed that in describing the operation of bending the blank to form the body of the can or box, and also the operation of forming the seam, I have spoken of the horn P as if it were solid. So far as the operation of the said horn is concerned, its parts are rigid and practically solid during the bending of the blank; but during the interlocking of the endfolded edges, and also during the removal of the finished body from the horn, it is necessary that the horizontal diameter thereof, especially at the upper part, should automatically diminish to meet the exigencies of the work. Thus, for example, if the horndid not contract laterally at its upper part, the hooked or end-folded edges of the blank could not pass one over the other, as I have just described, and in like manner, ifsuch contraction were not provided during the removal of the body from the horn, the former would be so closely bound upon the latter that the friction would prevent its facile or speedy removal. To provide for this contraction in a certain direc tion of the horn P at certain stages in the operation of the machine,the said horn is constructed asfollows: It is bored from its inner end nearly to its outer end, as represented at g" in Fig. 5, and its main or rigid portion is beveled at one side, as shown in the cross-section, Fig. 8 and there is fitted to the said side, as also represented in the said figure, a hinged leaf, 0 A lateral openin g,m extends from the bore g out through the adjacent beveled side of the horn, and into and through this opening projects a stud, a which extends inward from the leafCfi. Working longitudinally in the bore g is a rod or bar, D the inner end of which is beveled to the wedge-like form shown at r in Fig. 5. These parts are so proportioned that when the rod 1) has been pushed inwardthe wedge W, acting against the inner end of the stud M, will force outward the leaf 0 to give the size and contour to the horn P required While the blank is being bent around thelatter, as hereinbefore explained; but when the rod D is drawn in an opposite direction the wedge 1*", being withdrawn, permits the leaf 0" to move inward against the beveled surface 5 of the main portion of the horn, thereby narrowing the said horn, considered as a whole, at its upper side.

In order to give the requisite longitudinal movement to the rod D its outer end is provided with a head, a which is fitted within a socket, F The construction last described is more clearly indicated in Figs. 5 and S aforesaid. The socket F is really a vertical inwardly-flanged groove formed in the upper end of a lever, G which is attached to a rockshaft, H, from which extends a horizontal lever, H, from which extends upward the rod H, as shown in Fig. 4. This rod H, as shown in Fig. 2, is actuated from two cams, H H", on the shaft Gr by devices substantially the same as those by which the rod 0 is operated from the cams l and I on one of the shafts E. With reference to the mechanism for forming the end-folded edges upon the blank by this means, such movement is given to the rod D as to expand the born to its full size at the requisite stages of the operation of bending the blank to form the body and of forming the joint in the latter, and to permit the contraction of the upper part thereof when such is necessary. The leaf 0 it should be mentioned,is pushed inward to contract the available size of the born by the impact of the adjacent pusher e when the same advances with the contiguous folding-head W, the leaf yielding, of course, simultaneously with the withdrawal from the stud n of the wedge 1, and also simultaneously with the passage of the uppermost of the end-folded edges of the blank upon and over the undermost of said edges.

What I have designated as the lever G7 0perates as such, although its form is that of a rectangular frame, as represented in Fig. 2, this being necessary in order that it may operate and have a requisite movement without interfering with or being interfered with by the mechanism placed below the horn P. The blank having been bent around the horn and the seam having been formed by thejunction of its twolateral edges, as hereinbefore explained,

itremains to strip the said blank from the horn,

in order to give way to a similar action upon the subsequent or nextsucceeding blank. This is done by mechanism as follows:

Two long stripping-jaws, A each of which is pivoted, as shown at a to a laterally-adjustable slide, 13*, the said slides being placed in a transverse guide, 0*, at the back of the machine, at such a height that the strippingjaws A*, when pushed forward, will pass astride the horn P, one on each side, about midway between the upper and lower sides of said horn. At the forward extremity of each of the stripping-jaws A* is a shoulder, z. The rearmost end of each of said stripping-jaws is curved slightly inward, as shown at 0*. The

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inner end of each of the transverse slides B has formed in it a groove or guide in a direction transverse to itslengththatis to say, in a direction lengthwise of the machine. The object of these grooves or guides is to receive sliding barsf each of which is held in place by a fixed set-screw or bolt passing through a vertical slot in the said sliding bar, as indicated in the plan view, Fig. 3, reference-letters being omitted because of the relative sm allness of the slot and set-screws. The rearportion of each of the sliding bars f* has formed on its outer side inclined planes, which move in contact with the rounded contiguous ends 0* of the stripping-jaws A as represented in said Fig. 3, but which are notindicated by ref erence-letters because of their relative smallness.

It will be observed that when the slides 0* are pushed backward the inclined planes' upon them, just hereinbefore described, acting against the short rear ends, 0*, of the strippingjaws A will move the same outward; and inasmuch as the said ends 0* are many times shorter than the opposite or long arms, it follows thata slight movement to the arm 0* communicates arelatively great movement to the innermost extremities-in other words, to the shoulders z of the long arms. It will also be observed that by spreading apart the short arms, as just explained, the long arms are caused to approach each other, whereas when the short arms are caused to approach each other the long arms are spread apart.

The guide (3* is provided on the inner or forward end of a horizontal frame, D*. The said horizontal frame D moves in horizontal guides 13*, its movement being backward and forward in line, or substantially so, with the horn P. Fixed upon the guides E and extending over or across the real-most portion of the frame D is a stop, 921*. In the opposite sides of the horn P are longitudinal grooves 9*, as more fully represented in the enlarged detail view, Fig. 8.

In order to strip the body of the can or box from the horn P, on which it has been completed, the horizontal frame D* is caused to move forward by means hereinafter set forth. The slidef during this movement is pushed forward with reference to the said frame D*, to permit the spreading of the long arms of the stripping-jaws This permits the said stripping-jaws to pass lengthwise of the horn P and astride thereof, their passage being outside of the body of the can or box, as the same is situated upon the horn P, as hereinbefore explained, the line of movement of the said long arms of the stripping-jaws A* being parallel or coincident with the groove g in the opposite sides of the horn. At the completion of the inward stroke of the frame D'* the shoulders z, the forward extremities of the long arms of the stripping-jaws A slip past or in front of the forward edges of the side of the body, as the same is situated upon the born, the grooves g in the said horn permitting the said shoulder z to retain a secure hold upon the said forward edges or end of the body, this gripe, however,being secured by the bringing toward each other of the said long arms of the griping-jaws A at the completion of their forward stroke just described. This is accomplished by the slidesf which just before the completion of said stroke strike against the rearward end of the horn P, and, being forced backward in relation to the short inner arms, 0*, of the stripping-jaws A*, cause their inclined lateral surfaces to force apart the said short arms 0*, thereby bringing the shoulder z inward past and over the forward end or edges of the body. These slides f have a frictional hold sufficieut to retain them in position, whether pushed forward or backward, except when automatically moved in the oper ation of the machine. It follows, therefore. that the backward movement of the frame D will strip the body from the horn P by the hold upon the latter of the shoulders 2. At the completion of the reverse or rearward stroke of the horizontal frame D* the rearward ends of the slides strike the stop m and are driven forward with relation to the short arms 0* of the stripping-jaws A this of course releasing the said short arms aud permitting the long arms of the said stripping-jaws A* to spread apart to drop the body, and also to bring the stripping-jaws A into position for a repetition of the stripping operation. During the rearward stroke of the frame B -in other words, during the withdrawal of the body from the horn P-the passage of the shoulders z lengthwise of the horn I, without liability of dislodgment from the forward end of the body, is insured by the grooves gt, which afford room for the shoulders z to project inward beyond the edge of the body during the withdrawal of the latter from the horn.

The devices by which the requisite reciprocating movement is given to the frame D* are represented in Fig. 4, the said framevD being connected by a rod, W, with an upwardly-projecting extension, W, of the lever (1 by which motion is transmitted to the feed mechanism, as hereinbefore explained.

The guides are formed upon a vertically adjustable bracket, 1*, which is fitted into an upright standard, K in such manner as to be vertically adjustable therein,this standard being firmly secured upon the base B of the machine and the bracket 1*, and consequently the guides D and the parts carried thereby being made adjustable by means of asuitable screw, L' working through the fixed base of the standard K into a suitable nut provided in the upright portion of the bracket 1*.

It will be noticed that, inasmuch as the horn is attached to its support at one end, the downward pressure exerted thereon during the operation of closing the seam would bend the horn downward more or less out of place if no provision were made to support its outer end against the pressure or thrust exerted thereon in closing the seams, as just mentioned. To

thus sustain the outer end of the horn against such thrust, there is provided below said outer end a vertically-movin g bar, T which works in suitable guides, and which has its lower end resting on a cam, o which is provided on a transverse rock-shaft, c. From this rockshaft extends back an arm, 49, upon the forward end'of which is a laterally-projecting stud or pin, 11 which passes into the slot of a swinging link, 22 the upper end of which is pivoted to the biOt'k M, as represented in Fig. 4. As the block M approaches the limit of its upwardstroke the end of the slot in the swinging link a strikes the stud or pin '0 of the arm a and turns the cam a in such a manner as to force upward the vertically-moving bar until its upper end is brought under the outer or rear extremity of the horn, thereby pressing the latter against the downward pressure exerted upon it in the operation of the machine, the downward movement ofthe block M of course reversing the movement of the cam 'v at the proper stage in the operation to permit the descent of the bar T* in timeto allow the body of the can or box to be withdrawn, as hereinbefore explained. This downward movement of the bar T* is preferably assisted by a spiral spring applied thereto, as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 4.

Such being the construction of the apparatus and such the operation of the several combinations of parts embraced therein, it is manifest that, briefly stated, the operation of forming the completed body of the can or box from the square blank is as follows: The blank being placed upon the guides O in advance of the studs g of the feed-bar D, the backward motion of the latter carries the same upon the benches m a, where its edges are folded inward toward opposite sides of the blank, which being done, the inward movement of the feeding-bar 1) causes the stud to force inward the'blank having the end-folded edges to and upon the angular guides M, from which it is lifted by the block M to the horn P, bent to the shape requiredin the body of the can or box joint at its end-folded edges to form the longitudinal seam of the can, and then discharged by being withdrawn from the horn, all as hereinbefore explained.

It will be observed that three blanks are simultaneously operated upon to form the can or boX body, the three, although in the machine at the same time, being at different stages of treatment, so to speak. For example, one blank is in the initial stage-that of lying upon the guides 0 in front of the stud g of the feedbar D; the second is upon the benches m n,

undergoing the operation of having its edges folded, while the third is upon the horn P, undergoing the operation of being bent around the horn and having its edgesjoined, the withdrawal of the finished body of the can or box being substan tially simultaneous with thebackward feeding of the succeeding blank from the edge-folding mechanism, which, in its turn, makes way for the succeeding blank from the guides 0 which, in its turn, makes way for a new blank to be placed on said guides.

The parts of the apparatus are of course duly proportioned and arranged, so that the feed ing mechanism, the edge-folding mechanism, and the bending and edge-joining mechanism all operate in unison, so that the plain blank, entering at the front of the machine, is automatically operated upon until it has automatically discharged a completed body of the can or box at the rear of the apparatus.

The apparatus as hereinbefore described is more particularly designed for manufacturin g the bodies of square cans or boxes; but when the machine is to be used for making cylindrical bodies it is necessary that the shape of the horn P, and also of the cavity of the block M, should be correspondingly modified.

It is also desirable that, instead of one leaf,

C", attached to the horn, there should be two,

one upon each side of the horn, as represented in the enlarged detail views, Figs. 6 and 7. In this case each of the leaves is furnished with an inwardly projecting stud, n projecting through a suitable opening into the bore of the horn, and the rod D instead of having a single inclined plane or wedge at its forward end, has the inclined plane duplicated, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 11, so that the movement of the rod D operates the two leaves of the cylindric horn P in substantially the same manner that it operates the one leaf of the rectangular horn, hereiubefore described. In order, moreover, to secure the most efiective bending of the blank around the cylindrical horn, there is fitted into the bottom of the cavity of the block M a sliding piece, M which is substantially the same length as the block-in other words, substantially aslong as the body of the can or box to be shaped. The said slidingpiece M is placedin a groove of corresponding shape formed in the block M, and is I provided with a down wardly-extendiug stem, M, which serves to retain it against longitudinal displacement, and which passes through a suitable hole or socket in the lower part of the block M. Around the said stem n is placed a spiral spring, as represented in Fig. 9,and the upper surface of the slidingpiece M is hollowed longitudinally, as also shown in the said figure, the transverse section of the hollowed sur face having the same curvature as the other portions of the cavity or recess of the block M. When the said block is forced upward to and against the horn, in bending the blank to the shape of the body of the can or box, the sliding piece M being moved somewhat in ad Vance, strikes the under side of the blank and gripes the same againstthe under side of the horn with sufficient force to prevent the displacement of the blank while the block M is acting to compress the blank around the bottom and sides of the cylindric horn, thereby insuring the proper operation of the block M in the operation last mentioned.

It is further to be observed that the apparatus, whether constructed with the rectangulat or the cylindric horn, and its adjuncts may I be used notonly for making this specific folded or interlocked seam, butalso for making other equivalent seamsthat is to say, seams which are formed by the lapping or interlocking of the edges of the blank, whatever the peculiar character of the fold at either or both ends of the blank may be.

It is further to be observed that the apparatus may be very readily applied to the manufacture of bodies of cans and boxes of different sizes. Provision is made for this by the adjustability ofmany of the parts, it being only necessary, apart from such adjustment, that the horn P and recess-block M be replaced by others of the requisite size and form. This being done, the laterally-adjustable frames 0 are adjusted by the means just hereinbefore described to suit the width of the blank, the lateral adjustment of the frames 0 of course regulating the position of the guides (3 the benches m n. and their adjunctive folding devices, and also the angular guides M, while the height of the frame D* with reference to the horn P is adjusted by means of the screw L*, as hereinbefore explained, while the various rods by which motion is transmitted to many of the moving parts, as hereinbefore explained, may be lengthened or shortened by means of the oppositely-threaded nuts which connect the oppositely-threaded nuts of the two parts of which each of the said rods is composed.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination of the upright supporting-frameA,thetwolaterally-adjustabletrames O, carrying the guides O, benches m n, the laterally-movable plunger 1', the plunger 1", plates 0; 'c, the horizontal pushers K K, and separate means for relatively operating the several parts, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of thehorn P, former M, heads W, nipping-hammer)", angular guides M, an edge-folding mechanism, and separate means for relatively operating the several parts, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination of the horn P, constructed with the hinged leaf 0 the pushers 6', heads W, and nipping-hammer f", and separate means for relatively operating the several parts, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The combination of the vertically-movable bar T* with the outer end of the horn P, and mechanism, substantially as described, for folding the blank around the horn and for interlocking and compressing the folded edges of said blank, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. In a machine for making the bodies of sheet-metal cans, the combination of the following elements, to wit: a feeding-bar having the two studs g g, for giving an independent movement simultaneously to two blanks, the guides O, the edge-folding mechanism composed of the benches m n, plunge'rs r 1, plates o o, and horizontal pushers K K, the blankbending mechanism composed of the guides M, the horn P, having the hinged-leaf 0 former M, heads W, nipping hammer f", and mechanism for withdrawing the completed body from the horn, composed, essentially, of two retracting-jaws capable of a backward-and-forward movement, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

6. The combination of the upright frame A, constructed with the cross-bar f, two laterally adjustable frames,0, placed in substantially the same plane and constructed with the shoulders c, longitudinally grooved on their under sides, a system of gearing arranged upon each of the frames 0, for the purpose ofactuating the plungers r r, the fixed ledges e, and the set-screws a, all constructed substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

7. The combination of the driving-shaft B, supported in bearings on the main frame A, and having at or near each end a spur-pinion, B, the counter-shafts E, carried one upon each of the laterally adjustable frames O, each provided with a spur-gear, A, and with mechanism, substantially as described, for transmitting motion to the edge-folding mechanism and to the mechanism for bending the blank to the shape required in the body of the box or can, whereby the machine is rendered adjustable for the manufacture of bodies of different diameters,'all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

8. The laterally adjustable frames 0, con-- structed with the horizontal parallel guides-G, each having a longitudinal flange, f, and the benches m n, and mechanism, substantially as described,for folding the edges of the blank and for bending the blank to the form required in the body of the can or box, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

9. In a machine for making the bodies of sheet-metal cans orboxes, the blank-feedin g device composed of the feeding-bar D, having the studs g g, the link having arm 1', the link h, the spring m the carriage D, the sliding block F, having the inclined plane z and laterally-projecting stud 7c, and bar F, having the studsjj, the said parts being constructed and arranged for joint use and operation in feeding blanks in duplicate toward and into the machine, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

10. The horn P, hollow or bored internally, as described, and having a lateral opening, W, a leaf, O hinged to the said horn, and having a stud, n projecting inward through the openin g m, and the rod or bar D, having its inner edge beveled or wedge-shaped, the whole constructed and arranged to provide for the contraction and expansion of the horn, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

11. The combination ofa contracting and expanding horn, P, with the longitudinally-movable and laterally opening'and closing strippin g-jaws A, and separate means for relatively IOC IIC

operating the several parts, substantially as longitudinal slides f", the stripping-jaws A 10 and for the purpose herein set forth. the stop m, the contracting and expanding 12. The horn P, constructed with lo'ngitudihorn P, and separate means for relatively 0pnal grooves in its opposite sides, in combinaerating the several parts, all substantially as 5 tion with the longitudinally-movable strippingand for the purpose herein set forth.

jaws A", substantially as and for the purpose FRANK M. LEAVITT. herein set forth. lVitnesses:

13. The combination of the horizontal frame CHAS. H. DOXAT, D* provided with the transverse slides B and JAMES A. WHITNEY. 

